Global Trends in ICT Accessibility Implementation United Nations Expert Group Meeting on ICT Accessibility: Tokyo, Japan, 19-21 April 2012 Axel Leblois, G3ict

Global Trends

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Actual progress of ICT accessibility policies among CRPD States Parties

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Success factors and roadblocks in developing and implementing ICT accessibility Policies

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Opportunities for international cooperation and policy support with UN agencies support

1. Actual Progress of ICT Accessibility Policies among CRPD States Parties

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Good Progress of Disability Legislation among States Parties but ICT Accessibility Lagging

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91% have a constitutional article, law or regulation defining the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

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72% have a definition of "Reasonable Accommodation" included in a law or regulation regarding the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

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56% only have a definition of accessibility which includes ICTs or electronic media in the country laws or regulations

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As a Result, Mainstream ICT Accessibility Implementation is Limited: ™

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Among States Parties to the CRPD about half only have issued policies covering mainstream ICT accessibility:

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 56%

Television

 56%

Web sites

 47%

Fixed telephony

 47%

Mobile telephony

 41%

ATMs and electronic kiosks

 38%

Digital talking books

States Parties, However, Have Programs Promoting ICT Accessibility and Assistive Technologies in Specific Areas: 78% Primary and secondary education 72% Higher education 63% Rehabilitation services 59% Reasonable accommodation at work 50% Emergency services

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Examples of Policies and Programs Currently Implemented ™

Distribution of free equipment to deaf blind persons funded by a Universal Service Fund to give them access to communications (United States)

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Captioning of television (implemented by half of the countries which have ratified the CRPD)

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100% audio described television channel for the blind (Canada)

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Offering relay services for deaf and speech impaired users of telephony

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Ongoing monitoring of web accessibility and compulsory remediation of all egovernment web sites (Republic of Korea)

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Implementation of computer based assistive technologies in schools and universities (over three quarters of all States Parties to the CRPD have some level of implementation)

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Providing reasonable accommodation at the workplace with publicly funded support centers (United States)

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Developing resource centers to support rehabilitation professionals offering ICT based assistive technologies to persons with disabilities (Qatar)

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Public procurement rules including ICT accessibility criteria (United States, European Union policy in development)

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2. Success Factors and Roadblocks in Developing and Implementing ICT Accessibility Policies

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Key Observations 1.

Many solutions exist which are not implemented even when policies are in place

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Legislation, regulation and strict enforcement cannot work in isolation

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Awareness raising and capacity building are essential success factors

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ICT Accessibility success factors vary widely by application sector, i.e. Education, Workplace, Telecommunications or Broadcasting

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When multiple stakeholders work together, better results can be achieved

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Business or Government? Who Should be Driving e -Accessibility? e-Accessibility?

Source: Survey of 34 DEEP 2012 Program Committee members Source: DEEP 2012 Program Committee Survey Slide

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Private Sector Roadblocks ™

Demographic trends point to a large market opportunity for accessible ICT products, applications and services but:  Product and services developers are generally not aware of accessibility issues nor trained in the basics of Universal and Inclusive Design  Private sector is ill-equipped to evaluate ROI on accessible products and services design  Compliance ends up driving behavior more than market opportunity, accessibility driven by lawyers  CSR strategies not a substitute to mainstream marketing strategies

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Public Sector Road blocks: Fragmented Decision Making Leads to Lack of Focus ™

59% of States Parties to the CRPD do not define,

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65% do not define public procurement rules policy

promote or monitor accessibility standards for ICTs

promoting accessible ICTs

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72%do not have a systematic mechanism to involve

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87% do not have statistics or data accessible for the

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DPOs working in the field of digital access to the drafting, designing, implementation and evaluation of laws and policies

general public about digital access by persons with disabilities

91% do not have mandatory training programs (at

universities, vocational schools etc.) for future professionals about digital access for persons with disabilities

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3. Opportunities for International Cooperation and Policy Development with UN Agencies Support

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1 - Promote Enablers that Benefit All Users and Create Economies of Scale ™

Localized solutions for:  Mobile accessibility features  Voice recognition  Text to Speech  Epub 3  Computer accessibility  Geo-positioning solutions

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Preferably in partnership with the private sector for sustainability

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2 - Strengthen the Assistive Technologies Ecosystem ™

Assistive technologies require significant support services  Large underestimated cost component of assistive solutions  Delivered by rehabilitation, education and workplace accommodation channels

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Promote expertise centers in each geography (AT Leadership Network)

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Focus on training of professionals

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3 – Promote Sustainable Funding and Business Models ™

Leverage existing mechanisms for accessibility of information infrastructure and services (USFs)

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Promote good practices in Special Education planning and budgeting in support of Inclusive Education

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Facilitate global partnerships with ICT industry to promote key accessibility levers

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Focus UN Trust Funds on capacity building and national pilot projects

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4 – Launch National Pilots with Volunteering Countries ™

Support the implementation of national ICT accessibility programs  Multi-Sectorial, multi-stakeholders, with participation of persons with disabilities  Promoting standards and international good practices  Measuring outcomes

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Leverage the reach and resources of various UN agencies in multiple sectors  Example: UNESCO in Education, ILO for the workplace, ITU for Telecom Regulators etc.  UNDESA hosted Interagency Support Group is a good place to initiate process

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5 – Systematize Capacity Building ™

Key target groups  Country disability advocates  Policy makers by sector, in cooperation with specialized UN agencies (Education, Broadcasting, Telecom, Rehabilitation etc.)  IT professionals

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Good practices sharing platforms  Build on existing resources  Expand reach in multiple languages (example G3ict Toolkit in Russian with UNIC)

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Thank You For Your Attention!

www.g3ict.org www.e-accessibilitytoolkit.org [email protected]

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